Chapter 3: The Central Wu Earth Apricot Yellow Qi of the Four Symbols and Five Elements

The next day, early morning.

Before dawn, a carriage was already making its way towards the Spirit Hall.

Inside the carriage were Zhou Chen, Tang San, and Old Jack.

The Spirit Hall in Notting City was located in the city center, a massive domed building with a facade over a hundred meters wide and twenty meters tall.

The whole structure was brown, with a symbol of a single long sword above the main entrance, indicating that Notting City's Spirit Hall was the lowest-level branch.

At this time, the square in front of the Spirit Hall was already crowded with people, which made Old Jack and Tang San admire Zhou Chen's foresight.

After stepping down from the carriage, Old Jack led the two into the crowd.

"Stop, line up. Can't you see the whole square is packed?" 

Two guards at the entrance crossed their long spears to block the way.

Without panic, Old Jack took out a badge from his pocket, which bore the large character "Su."

Seeing this badge, one of the older guards' eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly said, "Oh, please, please enter."

"Thank you."

Old Jack politely acknowledged and proceeded inside with the two boys.

Afterward, Old Jack skillfully found a secret room and knocked on the door, indicating that the deacon he had arranged with yesterday was inside.

"Come in."

A calm voice came from inside the secret room, and Old Jack led Zhou Chen and Tang San inside.

Inside the room was a young man in his twenties, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. Although not half as handsome as Zhou Chen, he was quite dashing.

He wore a white suit with a black cape, a "Soul" emblem in the center of his chest, and a badge with three crossed swords on his left chest, representing a Grand Soul Master of the third level.

The more Zhou Chen looked at this man, the more familiar he seemed. Coupled with the badge Old Jack had shown earlier with the "Su" character, his heart skipped a beat.

Could it be such a coincidence?

"Hello, respected Battle Soul Master, we must trouble you this time."

Old Jack greeted the young man with a slight bow, and the young man, with a faint hint of pride, nodded slightly in return.

"Sir, please leave. The ceremony cannot be disturbed," the young man gestured politely.

"Alright."

Old Jack nodded, aware of the rule, and promptly exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"Young ones, let's begin."

The young man looked at Zhou Chen and Tang San warmly.

"Wait a moment."

Zhou Chen suddenly spoke up.

"What's the matter?"

The young man frowned at Zhou Chen.

"I have a question."

Zhou Chen's eyes took on a playful glint. "Su Yuntao, Level 26 Battle Soul Master, Martial Spirit: Lone Wolf?"

"Huh? How do you know that?"

Su Yuntao was taken aback, looking down at Zhou Chen with a sense of unease about this strange child.

"Because Master Su's reputation is well-known," Zhou Chen sincerely 'praised,' struggling to hold back laughter.

The legendary first 'poison milk' of Douluo Continent, the Spirit Hall's grave digger, Su Yuntao—today, I finally meet you!

"Well-known? You flatter me."

Su Yuntao actually believed Zhou Chen's 'compliment.'

Feigning modesty, he waved his hand, "A small reputation, nothing worth mentioning. Let's get to the martial spirit awakening."

With that, Su Yuntao uncovered a dust cloth on the floor, revealing a hexagonal formation inlaid with six black round stones. He then took out a blue crystal ball for testing soul power.

"You first."

Su Yuntao gestured to the more obedient Tang San, signaling him to step into the hexagonal stone formation.

"Don't be afraid."

He spoke, then shouted, "Lone Wolf, Possession!"

Instantly, green light flared as his body swelled, gray fur sprouting on his limbs, and ten wolf claws emerged from his hands. Two soul rings, one white and one yellow, slowly rose from his feet.

Seeing Su Yuntao transform into this half-man, half-wolf form, Tang San was startled but didn't show it, while Zhou Chen remained as calm as ever.

Soon, just like in the original storyline, Tang San awakened the Blue Silver Grass martial spirit, and his soul power level was innately full!

"Alas, too bad Blue Silver Grass is a wasted martial spirit."

Su Yuntao muttered, regretfully taking the crystal ball from Tang San and handing it to Zhou Chen.

"Your turn, little friend. Let's test your soul power first."

"Sure."

Zhou Chen nodded, extending his hand. He was curious to see how the mysterious energy generated by the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor differed from Douluo Continent's soul power.

"Buzz!"

The moment his palm touched the crystal ball, Zhou Chen felt a powerful suction pulling the energy from his body into the crystal ball!

Simultaneously, the crystal ball lit up, its dazzling blue light quickly becoming intensely brilliant, filling the entire room and turning everyone's faces blue!

"Innately full soul power as well!"

Su Yuntao was utterly shocked. He wondered how such a rare occurrence of innate full soul power was appearing like common cabbage?

However, in the next second, he had no time to think.

Because the brilliant blue light in the crystal ball began to change to another color—gold!

Initially, only the part of the crystal ball in contact with Zhou Chen's hand turned gold, but gradually, the golden light spread, filling the entire crystal ball and starting to radiate outwards!

"Boom!!"

When the golden light inside the crystal ball reached its peak, visible golden waves of light rippled outward from Zhou Chen as the center. A pressure as solid as mountains enveloped the entire room!

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Immediately, cracking sounds echoed as fine web-like cracks appeared on the sturdy surface of the crystal ball!

At this moment, Su Yuntao and Tang San only saw a golden world, with waves of golden light washing over them, making them feel as if burdened by a mountain!

This was soul power pressure!

In an instant, Tang San was overwhelmed by the soul power pressure, collapsing to the ground, while Su Yuntao, with the highest soul power level, struggled to hold on.

"Stop, quickly... take your hand off the crystal!"

Su Yuntao bent over, struggling to approach Zhou Chen, trying to pull him away from the crystal.

However, the closer he got to Zhou Chen, the greater the soul power pressure, even causing his bones to creak. As soon as he touched Zhou Chen's clothes, he was already forced to the ground!

Meanwhile, Zhou Chen found himself in a predicament.

The mysterious energy within him was entirely out of control, surging wildly towards the crystal ball like a torrential river, rendering him immobile!

At this rate, he'd be drained dry!

"Ding... The Central Wu Earth Apricot Yellow Qi of the Four Symbols and Five Elements has been activated, adapting to the soul power rules..."

"What the heck is the system doing? Stop it now!" Zhou Chen shouted in his mind.

"Ding... The energy within the Host is the Central Wu Earth Apricot Yellow Qi from the dawn of creation! This Qi conflicts fiercely with the soul power rules of the Douluo Star; it must adapt to the soul power rules, or the Host will explode and perish!"

Hearing this, Zhou Chen was instantly terrified.

Afraid for his life, he calmed himself, cooperating with the system to control the wildly surging energy within him.